"Love is a burning thing, and it makes a firing ring" Johnny Cash put it straight and he isn't the only one. Many have sung of "this thing called Love". But did you know that Marriage is not all about love. No. Marriage is all about God. Put God in your marriage and it means all sense. Take HIM out, and it will start to crumble. I have seen it over an over again in my time as a marriage counselor. And I have come to the conclusion that marriage without God is not going to work. Of course there are marriages without God that have worked for years and they never fail. Well, I am not talking about failing. I am talking about the purpose of Marriage. God had a specific purpose when he put man and wife together. And that purpose includes God.
Here is another one to chew on: Marriage is about the Trinity. Yep, you read it right: Trinity.
In my opinion, Marriage is the perfect way to describe the complexity of the Trinity. At the same time it is the simplest way to understand the problem of “being one” and yet two different person. Let’s dig deeper and explore the way God "works" - and how marriage is probably supposed to work.
Created in the image of God
One of the hardest parts of understanding the Trinity is the fact, that “God is one” (Dtn. 6:4), yet at the same time three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Math 3:13-17/ 28:18-20). How is this possible? Do we worship three Gods? Or is just one of them God and the others are not? In this case, we are wrong in saying God is trinitarian. Which is it?
To understand this concept of the Trinity, it helps immensely to look a the marriage in the way God had designed it. When God created man, he created him in his image, but at the same time he created THEM as male and female (Gen1:27). Male and female are definitely distinct: Their way of thinking, their way of working, talking, listening, and so on. They are different in physique. They have different tasks. And they are different individuals, each one of a kind. God has created us in a way that each and ever human is his or her own unique person. Yet we share similarities. Everyone has two ears, two eyes, two legs, two arms, and the list could go on and on and on. And then there is the fact of feelings, talking, playing and acting alike. Everyone in his or her own way, but in the same way and all of us can do it. Some better and some not so good. But all do it.
Now, what does that have to do with the Trinity? Well, if we are created in the image of God, one might begin to ask, how can it be that we humans are two different type of person? Wouldn't it make more sense to have just one type - only men or only women? Note that God didn’t make a mistake here, he just wanted to point out, that there is a distinction in us humans, just as there is a distinction in him - God. Not that God is male and female, don’t get me wrong, but God might just also be plural.
Let us hold on to this thought for a moment and talk about the new couple, there in the garden of Eden. Even before sin entered the world, God said to them “A man shall leave his father and mother, and hold on to his wife, and they shall become one [flesh].” (Gen 2:24). Focus on this one phrase “they shall become one”. This is not just a phrase to talk about them having a sexual relationship. The union of husband and wife is a union of trust, faithfulness, mutual interest. It is a unity that only the two can share in the most intimate way. If someone from the outside would try to enter this unity, we would call it adultery. It is a unity that only these two individuals can and should experience.
This unity is also expressed, felt and seen in their relationship towards their children. Towards their children husband and wife become “the parents”. What Dad says goes, just as much as if Mom would say it. If one forbids the child to eat a snack, the other parent follows - or at least should follow (we all know how that sometime goes). Towards the children, the parents have equal authority, which also means that the children need to obey both parts of the parents (Eph 6:1-3).
Yet "parent" is not just one person. They are man and women, differently made and differently tasked. They can not be in the same place at the same time, at least most of the time.
So we can conclude here that a man is different from a woman, yet “they are one” in the eyes of God, before their children and towards other humans. Once they are married, they are one.
Could it be that the Trinity is just like that? Could it be that we, as children of God, need to accept the fact that God is one? There is no discussing an issue in a: “But Father, your Son has said…” or a “Well if the Spirit doesn’t give me the gift of…, I’ll just go to the Father.” To us, as his children, God is one. He says it and we obey. He is the Authority. He can’t be divided. To us, his children, he displays unity.
The differences within the Trinity
On the other hand, within the Trinity, we can see that there is a vast difference between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. One of these differences lays in their leadership. Yes, that's right, there is leadership within the Trinity. Even though there is no one higher or lower, better or worse, more valuable or less valuable. Still we can see a clear distinction on who is in charge and who does what. I know this is a controversial issue. But going through some Bible verses we can definitely see that there is a distinct leadership going on within the trinity. Bare with be here.
Let us start with the “sending principle”. God the Father is the one who knows the time of Jesus’ second coming, The son doesn’t (Math 24:36). Jesus’ knowledge on historical things seems to be limited - at least while he was on earth. In addition, we can see that Jesus was sent by the Father (Joh 3:16 / Gal 4:4). Jesus makes sure the disciples know this part too, when he says: “Just as the Father has sent me, I will send you.” (John 17:18 / 20:21). It is clear that the Father has sent the Son. It is different though when we come to the Holy Spirit. In the case of the Holy Spirit, he was sent on request of the Son by the Father (John 15:26). The Father will send him, in the Name of Jesus (John 14:26). The “sending principle” is following then the this order: the Father sends the Son, the Father sends the Holy Spirit on request of the Son and the Son sends us Christians in whom the Holy Spirit lives.
Here is another one: Jesus was given “all Authority” (Math 28:18). The main point here is not the Authority, but the fact that it “was given” to him, by the father. What intrigues me is, that Jesus knows his place. He knows that it is the Father how exercises usually all Authority. And in the end, Jesus will return all Authority back to God the Father (1Cor 15:28). We can see a clear leadership pattern here. But we are not done yet. We know now that Jesus will eventually submit his Authority to the Father (1Cor 15:28). But even in his lifetime Jesus submitted himself to God. The things Jesus did, he did only to glorify the Father (John 17). Even if it means the the death on the cross, Jesus submits his will to the will of the Father (Math 26:39). Jesus’ submission to the will of the Father is even reflected in the very prayer he teaches his disciples: “may your will be done” (Math 6:10). And now, just as Jesus submits to the Father, the Holy Spirit does just the same. The Holy Spirit works in us humans so that we do glorify the Son (John 16:14). He will help us recognize and proclame Jesus as our Lord (1Cor 12:3). And in the end, through the Spirit and Jesus, the living truth, we will be able to adore God (John 4:23-24).
We see that there is a clear pattern of some kind of a hierarchy within the Trinity. Again, not in a sense of who's is better or wiser or stronger or more important. But definitely in a sense that within the Trinity they know their places.
The Unity within the Trinity
On the other hand there is a strong unity within the Trinity. God is one; towards his children, towards other religions, towards other powers - God is one. If Satan picks a fight with one of them, he gets the best of it from all of them. If a person wants to live with one of them - all of them will be are part of it.
The “love principle”: Perhaps the clearest way of seeing this is the love they have for each other. John dedicates a whole chapter (1. John 4) in his letters to the topic of love. God, who is love. Jesus, who is visible in us through our love. The Love that is in us through God. The Spirit, who testifies of this love of the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus says several times in his life that He and the Father are one (John 10:30). What the Father does, the Son does also (John 5:19). The Son does it to glorify the Father and the Father glorifies the Son (John 17). There is even the talk about an “intimate unity” (lit. “at the fathers heart” John 1:18)
Also, the Holy Spirit glorifies the Son (Jon 16:14). “Glorify” in this case means lifting up, praising, speaking well of the other, …. hey it even means raising from the dead (see more in John 17:1-5). All out of love for each other. In fact, if we look at the Gospel of John, all it takes about is love. The Love of the Father, The love of the Son, the love of God in us through the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit we humans do the will of God, which in turn is a sign of love. We do glorify God and we do praise God - Father and Son.
When God the Father speaks of Jesus he says twice “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” (Math 3:17 / 17:5). God loves us humans (John 3:16) and at the end he pours out his love into us through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). God the Father exalts the Son and gives him all the Authority in heaven and on earth (Math 28:18). If we look at all those things, doesn’t it strike you that this union is filled with love! A Love of which we might just grasp a glimpse of what it really is. A perfect love. A divine love!
Here is another one to chew on: Marriage is about the Trinity. Yep, you read it right: Trinity.
In my opinion, Marriage is the perfect way to describe the complexity of the Trinity. At the same time it is the simplest way to understand the problem of “being one” and yet two different person. Let’s dig deeper and explore the way God "works" - and how marriage is probably supposed to work.
Created in the image of God
One of the hardest parts of understanding the Trinity is the fact, that “God is one” (Dtn. 6:4), yet at the same time three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Math 3:13-17/ 28:18-20). How is this possible? Do we worship three Gods? Or is just one of them God and the others are not? In this case, we are wrong in saying God is trinitarian. Which is it?
To understand this concept of the Trinity, it helps immensely to look a the marriage in the way God had designed it. When God created man, he created him in his image, but at the same time he created THEM as male and female (Gen1:27). Male and female are definitely distinct: Their way of thinking, their way of working, talking, listening, and so on. They are different in physique. They have different tasks. And they are different individuals, each one of a kind. God has created us in a way that each and ever human is his or her own unique person. Yet we share similarities. Everyone has two ears, two eyes, two legs, two arms, and the list could go on and on and on. And then there is the fact of feelings, talking, playing and acting alike. Everyone in his or her own way, but in the same way and all of us can do it. Some better and some not so good. But all do it.
Now, what does that have to do with the Trinity? Well, if we are created in the image of God, one might begin to ask, how can it be that we humans are two different type of person? Wouldn't it make more sense to have just one type - only men or only women? Note that God didn’t make a mistake here, he just wanted to point out, that there is a distinction in us humans, just as there is a distinction in him - God. Not that God is male and female, don’t get me wrong, but God might just also be plural.
Let us hold on to this thought for a moment and talk about the new couple, there in the garden of Eden. Even before sin entered the world, God said to them “A man shall leave his father and mother, and hold on to his wife, and they shall become one [flesh].” (Gen 2:24). Focus on this one phrase “they shall become one”. This is not just a phrase to talk about them having a sexual relationship. The union of husband and wife is a union of trust, faithfulness, mutual interest. It is a unity that only the two can share in the most intimate way. If someone from the outside would try to enter this unity, we would call it adultery. It is a unity that only these two individuals can and should experience.
This unity is also expressed, felt and seen in their relationship towards their children. Towards their children husband and wife become “the parents”. What Dad says goes, just as much as if Mom would say it. If one forbids the child to eat a snack, the other parent follows - or at least should follow (we all know how that sometime goes). Towards the children, the parents have equal authority, which also means that the children need to obey both parts of the parents (Eph 6:1-3).
Yet "parent" is not just one person. They are man and women, differently made and differently tasked. They can not be in the same place at the same time, at least most of the time.
So we can conclude here that a man is different from a woman, yet “they are one” in the eyes of God, before their children and towards other humans. Once they are married, they are one.
Could it be that the Trinity is just like that? Could it be that we, as children of God, need to accept the fact that God is one? There is no discussing an issue in a: “But Father, your Son has said…” or a “Well if the Spirit doesn’t give me the gift of…, I’ll just go to the Father.” To us, as his children, God is one. He says it and we obey. He is the Authority. He can’t be divided. To us, his children, he displays unity.
The differences within the Trinity
On the other hand, within the Trinity, we can see that there is a vast difference between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. One of these differences lays in their leadership. Yes, that's right, there is leadership within the Trinity. Even though there is no one higher or lower, better or worse, more valuable or less valuable. Still we can see a clear distinction on who is in charge and who does what. I know this is a controversial issue. But going through some Bible verses we can definitely see that there is a distinct leadership going on within the trinity. Bare with be here.
Let us start with the “sending principle”. God the Father is the one who knows the time of Jesus’ second coming, The son doesn’t (Math 24:36). Jesus’ knowledge on historical things seems to be limited - at least while he was on earth. In addition, we can see that Jesus was sent by the Father (Joh 3:16 / Gal 4:4). Jesus makes sure the disciples know this part too, when he says: “Just as the Father has sent me, I will send you.” (John 17:18 / 20:21). It is clear that the Father has sent the Son. It is different though when we come to the Holy Spirit. In the case of the Holy Spirit, he was sent on request of the Son by the Father (John 15:26). The Father will send him, in the Name of Jesus (John 14:26). The “sending principle” is following then the this order: the Father sends the Son, the Father sends the Holy Spirit on request of the Son and the Son sends us Christians in whom the Holy Spirit lives.
Here is another one: Jesus was given “all Authority” (Math 28:18). The main point here is not the Authority, but the fact that it “was given” to him, by the father. What intrigues me is, that Jesus knows his place. He knows that it is the Father how exercises usually all Authority. And in the end, Jesus will return all Authority back to God the Father (1Cor 15:28). We can see a clear leadership pattern here. But we are not done yet. We know now that Jesus will eventually submit his Authority to the Father (1Cor 15:28). But even in his lifetime Jesus submitted himself to God. The things Jesus did, he did only to glorify the Father (John 17). Even if it means the the death on the cross, Jesus submits his will to the will of the Father (Math 26:39). Jesus’ submission to the will of the Father is even reflected in the very prayer he teaches his disciples: “may your will be done” (Math 6:10). And now, just as Jesus submits to the Father, the Holy Spirit does just the same. The Holy Spirit works in us humans so that we do glorify the Son (John 16:14). He will help us recognize and proclame Jesus as our Lord (1Cor 12:3). And in the end, through the Spirit and Jesus, the living truth, we will be able to adore God (John 4:23-24).
We see that there is a clear pattern of some kind of a hierarchy within the Trinity. Again, not in a sense of who's is better or wiser or stronger or more important. But definitely in a sense that within the Trinity they know their places.
The Unity within the Trinity
On the other hand there is a strong unity within the Trinity. God is one; towards his children, towards other religions, towards other powers - God is one. If Satan picks a fight with one of them, he gets the best of it from all of them. If a person wants to live with one of them - all of them will be are part of it.
The “love principle”: Perhaps the clearest way of seeing this is the love they have for each other. John dedicates a whole chapter (1. John 4) in his letters to the topic of love. God, who is love. Jesus, who is visible in us through our love. The Love that is in us through God. The Spirit, who testifies of this love of the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus says several times in his life that He and the Father are one (John 10:30). What the Father does, the Son does also (John 5:19). The Son does it to glorify the Father and the Father glorifies the Son (John 17). There is even the talk about an “intimate unity” (lit. “at the fathers heart” John 1:18)
Also, the Holy Spirit glorifies the Son (Jon 16:14). “Glorify” in this case means lifting up, praising, speaking well of the other, …. hey it even means raising from the dead (see more in John 17:1-5). All out of love for each other. In fact, if we look at the Gospel of John, all it takes about is love. The Love of the Father, The love of the Son, the love of God in us through the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit we humans do the will of God, which in turn is a sign of love. We do glorify God and we do praise God - Father and Son.
When God the Father speaks of Jesus he says twice “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” (Math 3:17 / 17:5). God loves us humans (John 3:16) and at the end he pours out his love into us through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). God the Father exalts the Son and gives him all the Authority in heaven and on earth (Math 28:18). If we look at all those things, doesn’t it strike you that this union is filled with love! A Love of which we might just grasp a glimpse of what it really is. A perfect love. A divine love!